Monthly Archives: September 2017

100 Facts about Charles Williams

Posted on September 30, 2017 by Brenton Dickieson

Well, for today’s Friday Feature (on early Saturday), this is super cool. Grevel Lindop has written an award-winning, critical biography of this strange man, Charles Williams–so influential to C.S. Lewis and the Inklings and a superbly interesting writer (if difficult … Continue reading →

Posted in Feature Friday, Memorable Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

C.S. Lewis’ Normal and Not-So-Normal Life as a Student

Posted on September 27, 2017 by Brenton Dickieson

As the cobblestone streets and hallowed halls of Oxford are beginning to fill for Michaelmas term, University students and faculty have been back to work here in North America. As I have a busy semester of teaching, I had a … Continue reading →

Posted in Letters, Lewis Biography | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Tolkien’s “I am in fact a Hobbit (in all but size)” in Context

Posted on September 22, 2017 by Brenton Dickieson

I don’t know that there is any more famous Tolkien quote than his claim to, in fact, be a hobbit. It’s really quite a delightful statement and worth quoting more fully: I am in fact a Hobbit (in all but … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 30 Comments

Why I Didn’t Finish IT as a Teen

Posted on September 19, 2017 by Brenton Dickieson

I was a couple of years older than the kids in IT when I picked it up the first time. The novel is filled with sexual content, gory violence, and profanity—very little of which was carried over to the Hollywood … Continue reading →

Posted in Creative Writing, Thoughtful Essays | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Did that Lizard Just Turn Into a Horse? Guest Post by Josiah Peterson

Posted on September 14, 2017 by Brenton Dickieson

The Scene “‘I cannot kill it against your will. It is impossible. Have I your permission?’ …the Lizard began chattering to the ghost so loud even I could hear what it said. ‘Be careful. He can do what he says. … Continue reading →

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9/11 and Mythology

Posted on September 11, 2017 by Brenton Dickieson

Based on the number of brochures that governments and non-profit groups produce, I suspect that most people are under the delusion that people operate out of beliefs. Know→Believe→Do, this is the way that the brochure-makers and moral pundits understand the … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

A Lament for the Loss of Young Teachers (A Feature Friday Post from the Vault)

Posted on September 8, 2017 by Brenton Dickieson

I am doing work in the statistical analysis division of our labour market research unit in government. Of course, I am. After all, I’m doing a PhD in fantasy literature. I wrote this piece a couple of years ago, where … Continue reading →

Posted in Feature Friday, On Writing, Original Research, Thoughtful Essays | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

My Teaching Philosophy on the 1st Day of School

Posted on September 7, 2017 by Brenton Dickieson

In the springtime I was thrilled to receive a teaching award. Today I’m walking into the classroom for the first time since then. Every time I step in front of students, I think about what I am doing. I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Original Research, Thoughtful Essays | Tagged , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Bluebeard the Hipster Serial Groove Killer: A Revolting Rhyme

Posted on September 5, 2017 by Brenton Dickieson

Last year I was fortunate to be able to work with Dr. Dimitra Fimi and a team of students at teachers at Signum University. Her course, “Folkloric Transformations,” is a fascinating look at werewolf and vampyre tales from the perspective … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments